Team photo by Christian Murdock. Other photos by Katie Schwing.

This adventure started with a conversation with a coworker. She had found this event, the Colorado Relay, and was putting a team together. I volunteered, mostly because I wanted to skip a year of the Pikes Peak Ascent but still spend…

Maybe I've finally recovered, maybe I'm lazy - either way, I'm just getting to my race report for the Pikes Peak Ascent. The 13+ miles and 7K feet of elevation gain kicked my tail. I had lofty delusions (I mean goals).

Heading into it, I got psyched up into thinking I could peek at 3:30. I had know idea. I do know that this in itself is an indicator of much growth in my running this season. I went from just wanting to finish when I signed up for the race to having goals...…

Last weekend I put away my triathlete shoes for a couple days and played the part of a bike racer. With the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in town there were several 'ancillary events' and as I was swept up in the excitement, I signed up for two of…

     First off I want to sincerely thank Tim Bergsten and Brian McCarrie from PikesPeakSports.us, Ron Ilgen from the Triple Crown of Running, and Colorado Sports and Spine Centers for sponsoring some fantastic running experiences this summer. Last weekend topped it all off with a couple of the most memorable days I've had since living in the Springs. But like a lot of fantastic memories, it didn't begin, or end, quite the way I expected. In fact, when I woke Saturday morning, I was doubtful…

Now that Leadville and Pikes Peak races have passed I have had the question of how to feel better racing at altitude proposed to me a couple of times.  The easiest answer to this is to train a lot at high altitude, so if you are doing Pikes Peak train at over 12,500 as much as humanly possible.  For those trying to balance a family, job, house, etc. that is easier said than…

Started out great. Caught in traffic on W's.

Passed woman getting ill on side of trail.

Stayed with her until her friends caught up.

Missed cut off by nine minutes.

Decided might try continue as civilian. Rescue volunteer cautioned not to due to storm issues.

Turned back at A-frame once again.

Next year.

Ever since I visited Colorado Springs in the late 70's during a cross-country road trip with my family, I've had a deep respect for Pikes Peak.  My dad towed our 28-ft. trailer up Pikes Peak Highway in the middle of July, and when we reached the summit, we were greeted with a hail storm and had a snowball battle while running around in shorts and flip flops.  In 1996,…

I:  Fat Black Cat

     4:45 am.  Street lamps and daybreak's dim colorless glow were my only sources of light for the first three miles.  Jogging through the neighborhood, my limited vision then revealed a fat black cat crossing my path, but barely a second after I spat he went and crossed again.  I spat again.  Superstition never played a big part in my daily runs, but that morning I felt a certain duty to spit.  I then drank some water out of my camelback.  Who would have thought…

Ready. Set. Go!

Everything is laid out. Can't read another word from Matt's book.

Its time to do it.

The path goes up. I will go up.

Soaring.

In my minds eye I have already won.

Tomorrow is the affirmation.

For many on this web page, some of my clients, and many friends it is almost race day.  For others race day or your big event is not far off.  I would like to wish the best of luck to all, no matter what your adventure is.  One of the things I like best about being a personal trainer and working with sports conditioning clients is that the people that tackle these type of…

 Have spent some time looking at Pikes Peak and been enjoying reading everyone's great posts about getting to the top (and back if that's their race) . Some moments have also been spent reflecting on The Ascent, 2008, getting so close, and having to go back down because the weather was creating terrible conditions on top. (it was a longer run, I was turned around at the A- frame.) My gear is ready, clothes set aside, race day check list complete. A little anxious about parking, sleep, and,…

I was reminded of a journalistic technique some wise old editor tried to teach me back when I was a pup writing for newspapers and magazines: zoom in, zoom out. Changing the focus on a story gives readers a different perspective. As I was finishing a short run to the top of the W's yesterday, I stood there looking out at the Garden of the Gods far below. Then I looked at the granite boulder right in front of me. Both were beautiful in different ways. The contrasting sandstone of the Gardent…

PikesPeakSports.us Triple Crown Runners race team member Jen Shotwell and Triple Crown of Running race director Ron Ilgen at the Paint Mines 6L Trail Run in Calhan.



To say the outcome of the Paint mines 6k trail run in Calhan was a surprise is an understatement.  I truly didn’t have any expectations other than get a good run in on a new to me…

THE MONEY IS IN THE BANK…don’t cash any in until Saturday! 

Terrific advice on the dreaded taper from my good friend Michelle.  With just five days to go until the start of the Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon doubler weekend I am scared to death.  I won’t lie.  Today is a “rest” day…I’m not a big fan of tapering, it makes me feel lazy and I am sure if I don’t run today or if I only run a few miles that all of the training I have…

     It's funny how the little things like an article or a picture, casually discovered in a magazine, can impact your life years later. Quite a while back, when I was still in North Carolina, I recall searching for the next great running challenge and happened upon an article about the Pikes Peak Marathon in Runner's World. Here are a couple memorable highlights from that write…

Ran up to the top of Pikes Peak last weekend. Took about 4:30. My goal is a sub 4 hour trek. It's looking tough right now. My new friend Howard says, "Think of the Ascent as the world's toughest 5K."

What? "5K?" I asked shocked.

"Yep, but it takes about 10 miles to get to the starting line (treeline)," he said slyly.

Well, if I walk to treeline at about a 20 minute mile... that's 3 hours and 20 minutes. I just have the run the last three miles…

     So chances are if you are reading this, you have at the very least some superficial interest in running (at most a sick obsession like myself). So if I were to ask you to list some runners that inspire, Scott Jurek, Yiannis Kouros, Usain Bolt, Paula Radcliffe, or even Matt Carpenter may be on your list. For me though, there is one runner who surpasses all of these great athletes. Though he holds no distance or speed records, an Academy Award winning film and a New York Times Bestselling…